JP3537964B2 - Specified resolution image transmission device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is, pay TV for transmitting and receiving moving images or still images, relates to an image transmission apparatus that may be utilized in TV conference or TV telephone etc., and more particularly, confidential level
The security provided according to Le (unique word), transmitting and receiving a certain image quality in accordance with the confidentiality level specified by PIN only users who can know the PIN is entered, the image transmission apparatus adapted to display About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a pay TV, a TV conference, or a TV telephone, which is an example of this kind of conventional technology, image data is encoded and transmitted from a transmitting terminal, and a receiving terminal transmits and receives image data. To decode the image data. However, it is hard to say that the confidentiality is excellent in these days when the code decoding algorithm is standardized. In recent years, as a transmission method for TV conferences and TV telephones in which transmission confidentiality measures have been taken, a password is attached to encoded image data, transmitted, and the terminal that has received the data extracts the password from the received data, Refers to the pre-registered password and the attached password, and if they match, decrypts the received image data.If they do not match, it does not decrypt,
A system has been invented that makes it impossible to decode image data in perfect form due to a mismatch between passwords.
However, in the above-described method, only the two choices of encoding / non-encoding the received image data by the password are made.

[0003]

As a conventional transmission method in a TV conference or a TV telephone in which transmission concealment measures are taken, a method of attaching a password to coded image data is as described above. There are two choices, whether to encode received image data or not, depending on the number, and do not meet various needs of users. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the related art, and has been disclosed in an image communication terminal capable of transmitting and receiving voice data and image data, for example, in a video communication terminal connected to a line of a pay TV or a TV phone. the picture quality and resolution of the image in order to be able to choose from several steps of, if the picture quality and resolution are several stages screen (resolution, for example, low resolution / medium resolution /
(High-resolution, etc.), and transmit and receive while keeping the confidential state. On the user side, the screen of the image quality and resolution selected according to the needs is displayed, and the user is connected to the line similarly. In an image communication terminal, it is possible to make a selection to change the area of a portion where the image quality and resolution of image data are changed, and to diversify confidentiality is an issue to be solved.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal identification number input means for inputting a personal identification number to an image receiving side ;
Decoding and transmitting and receiving means, the encoded image data received by said transmission reception means capable of transmitting the image quality specifying data that are assigned in advance <br/> depending on confidentiality level set in correspondence with PIN It includes the picture decoding unit, the image transmission side, and the image quality converting means for converting the resolution of the original image based on the image quality designation data received from the image receiving side, the converted image by該画quality converting unit codes Image encoding means to be encoded, transmitting and receiving means capable of transmitting the image data encoded by the image encoding means and receiving the image quality designation data, determining the received image quality designation data, And a control unit for controlling the image quality conversion unit and the image encoding unit based on the image data.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image receiving side, comprising: an image decoding means for decoding received encoded image data; and an image decoding means for decoding the image data decoded by the image decoding means.
Image quality conversion means for converting data to change the resolution , password input means for inputting a password,
According picture quality specified data that has been devoted Ri advance split <br/> depending on confidentiality level set in correspondence with the witness number, it is obtained by such a control means for controlling the image quality conversion unit.

[0006] The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the image quality conversion unit may be set on the area of the image to change the image quality, specify the <br/> region by the image quality designation data It is intended to be.

[0007] A fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the claims 1 to 3, as the image quality designation data, is obtained so as to specify the resolution of the image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the number of invalid bits and each bit position in a bit string of unit data of image data are designated as the image quality designation data. It was done.

[0009]

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of an image transmitting apparatus according to the present invention, wherein (A) shows an image receiving side and (B) shows an image transmitting side. Also,
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 1 (A), 1A is a transmitting / receiving unit on the receiving side, 2 is a resolution number input unit for designating a resolution by number, 3A is an image memory, 4 is an image decoding unit, and in FIG. The transmitting / receiving section, 3B is an image memory, 5 is a resolution determining section, 6 is a resolution converting section, and 7 is an image encoding section.

The operation of the image transmission apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which can be connected via a line, will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
A and 1B are connected to a line to transmit and receive data (step S1), and the image receiving side is prepared in advance from the resolution number input unit 2 or assigned to the user in advance by a dial button or the like. are resolution number (immediate
In order to change the image quality according to the confidential level,
Of the multiple image quality levels provided in advance,
An image quality finger that specifies one of the assigned image quality levels
The input data is sent to the terminal of the other party via the transmission / reception unit 1A (step S2). Here, as an example, the resolution number is “0123”. The resolution number sent is
The resolution number “0123” received by the transmission / reception unit 1B on the image transmission side (step S3) is sent to the resolution determination unit 3. The resolution determination unit 5 receives the resolution number “0123”, determines a filtering coefficient corresponding to the resolution of the received number (step S4),
It is transmitted to the resolution converter 6. On the image transmitting side, the image data to be transmitted is stored in the image memory 3B, and the image data is transmitted to the image memory 3B simultaneously with the transmission of the filtering coefficient.
The image data stored from B is sent to the resolution converter 6. The resolution converter 6 filters the image data (step S5). For example, assuming that the image data is 8-bit data “11010110” and the coefficient specifies that the lower three bits are set to “0”, the image data after filtering is “11010000”, Further, assuming that another resolution number (for example, “4567”) designates that the lower 2nd bit and the 5th bit are set to “0”, the image data is “11000” by the resolution converter 6.
100 ". Another resolution number (for example," 8
Assuming that none of the bits is changed, the image data is sent as it is to the image encoding unit 7 and “11010110” is encoded (step S6). Then, the encoded image data is transmitted through a line (step S7).

On the image receiving side, the image encoded data transmitted by the receiving side transmitting / receiving section 1A via the line is received (step S8) and then stored in the image memory 3A. The encoded image data is decoded by the image decoding unit 4 (step S9), and is output to the video processing circuit unit. As described above, the image quality of the image to be transmitted is changed according to the designated resolution number, and the image data is compressed, transmitted, decompressed, and displayed. The code for specifying the resolution number (image quality designation data), it is also possible to employ a security code (unique word), In addition to it is possible to specify the image quality due to filtering, image data It is also possible to specify the resolution indicating the number of pixels of the image, and the confidentiality of the transmitted image can be maintained, and the image quality ( resolution ) can be easily changed.

FIG. 5 shows a screen displaying an image transmitted at a different resolution. In FIG.
A display example of a screen in which the resolution is increased in the order of (A), (B), (C), and (D) is shown, and the user appropriately selects a screen having one of these resolutions. Specify a number. Then, the image transmission device of the present invention performs the above-described operation to obtain an image having the designated resolution.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of another image transmission apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the device shown in FIG. FIG.
, 11 is a receiving unit, 12 is a resolution number input unit, 1
3 is an image memory, 14 is an image decoding unit, 15 is a resolution determination unit, and 16 is a resolution conversion unit. The operation of this image transmission apparatus which can be connected to a line will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 4. First, the line is connected to this apparatus so that data is received (step S11), and data is transmitted through the line. The received encoded image data is received by the receiving unit 11 (step S12), and is stored in the image memory 13. Next, the image data is decoded by the image decoding unit 14 (Step S15) and sent to the resolution conversion unit 16. On the other hand, the image receiving side is prepared in advance from the resolution number input unit 12 or inputs a resolution number using a dial button or the like (step S13), and the number is determined by the resolution determination unit 15 by the corresponding filtering coefficient. Is performed (step S14). Then, the coefficient is sent to the resolution conversion unit 16, and the above-described image data is filtered by the filter of the designated coefficient (step S1).
6).

More specifically, the value of the image data decoded by the image decoding unit 14 is “00111111”, the value of the resolution number is “0123”, and the resolution judgment unit 15 prepares the resolution in advance. Assuming that the last three digits of the filtering coefficient corresponding to the number “0123” are “0”, the resolution number “0123” is assigned to the resolution determination unit 1.
In 5, a coefficient for setting the lower three digits of the image data to “0” is sent to the image conversion unit 16. Then, the resolution converter 16 converts the image data from “00111111” to “001111 000 ”.
And transmitted to the video processing circuit. As described above, the resolution of the received image is changed at the resolution corresponding to the designated resolution number and the image is displayed on the screen, and the resolution of the image can be changed by the password (unique word). It has been done.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of another image transmission apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 6, 1
1 is a receiving unit, 12 'is a password input unit, 13 is an image memory, and 14 is an image decoding unit. Reference numeral 17 denotes an image dividing unit, 19 denotes an image data synthesizing unit, 18A denotes an image A buffer, 18B denotes an image B buffer, and 16 ′ denotes a resolution converting unit. The operation of this image transmission apparatus which can be connected to a line will be described. First, a line is connected to this apparatus so that data is received, and encoded image data transmitted through the line is received by a receiving unit 11. And stored in the image memory 13. Next, the image decoding unit 14
The image data is decoded and sent to the image dividing unit 17. On the other hand, the image receiving side is prepared in advance, or inputs a personal identification number from the personal identification number input unit 12 ′ using a dial button or the like, and sends it to the screen division unit 19.
Here, the above-described decrypted data is divided into image data A and image data B according to the designation of the password. In this example, it is assumed that the image data A and the image data B are separated by designating each area at an arbitrary position and an arbitrary size by the password 20. The image data A / image data B are sent to the image A buffer 18A and the image B buffer 18B, respectively. The image data B stored in the image B buffer 18B is directly used as the image data
9, the image data A stored in the image A buffer 18A is sent to an image data synthesizing unit 19 after the resolution is changed by a resolution conversion circuit 16 ', and is synthesized with the image data A. You. The synthesized image data is sent to the video processing circuit, processed, and displayed on the screen.

FIG. 7 shows a screen on which an image synthesized by changing the resolution of an area designated to an arbitrary position and size is displayed. In FIG. 7, (A) to (C)
Shows an example in which the resolution of an area whose position and size are designated by different passwords is displayed differently from the other areas. As described above, it is possible to change the resolution of any part of the received image data and display it on the screen in accordance with the specified password, and easily respond to the diversification of confidentiality of the image data. Can be.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Since the filtering coefficient and resolution are determined by the designated resolution number, only the user who can know the number can obtain an image of the image quality and resolution corresponding to the number from the transmitting side through the line, and the confidential level The provision of several steps in accordance with allows only certain users to obtain accurate images. (2) Filter the received image or reduce the number of pixels
Since the setting can be changed, the videophone on the transmitting side can be connected to multiple terminals, and the filtering coefficient and resolution are determined by the specified resolution number. It is possible to obtain an image having the image quality and resolution corresponding to the number, and by providing several steps, it is possible for only a specific user to obtain an accurate image. (3) only the filter calculation portion of the received image
Therefore, by setting the number of pixels to be changed , only the user who can know the personal identification number can obtain an accurate image of the area of the screen part corresponding to that number only in the highly confidential part. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of an image transmission apparatus according to the present invention, where (A) shows an image receiving side and (B) shows an image transmitting side.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an embodiment of another image transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a screen displaying an image transmitted at a changed resolution.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an embodiment of another image transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen displaying an image synthesized by changing the resolution of an area designated to an arbitrary position and an arbitrary size.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A: receiving side transmitting / receiving section, 1B: transmitting side transmitting / receiving section, 2, 1
2 ... Resolution number input section, 3A, 3B, 13 ... Image memory, 4 ... Image decoding section, 5 ... Resolution determination section, 6,16,
16 ': resolution conversion unit, 7: image encoding unit, 11: reception unit, 12': password input unit, 14: image decoding unit, 1
5: resolution determination unit, 17: image division unit, 18A: image A
Buffer, 18B: buffer for image B, 19: image data synthesizing unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/10 H04N ^7/ 16-7/173 H04N ^7/ 24-7/68

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A password inputting a password on an image receiving side.
And number input means, and receiving means capable of transmitting the image quality specifying data that are assigned in advance according to the confidential level is set corresponding to the dark license number, the encoded image data received by said transmission reception means includes the picture decoding means for decoding, in the image transmission side, and the image quality converting means for converting the resolution of the original image based on the image quality designation data received from the image receiving side, converted by該画quality converting unit image Image encoding means for encoding, transmitting the image data encoded by the image encoding means, transmitting and receiving means capable of receiving the image quality designation data, and determines the received image quality designation data, An image transmission apparatus comprising a control unit for controlling the image quality conversion unit and the image encoding unit based on the result. 2. On the image receiving side, image decoding means for decoding received encoded image data, and data conversion for changing the resolution of the image data decoded by the image decoding means. Image quality conversion means and password
Password input means for inputting
That it is assigned in advance according to the set the confidentiality level
According image quality designation data, image transmission apparatus being characterized in that as a control means for controlling the image quality conversion unit. 3. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image quality converting means is capable of setting an area of an image whose image quality is to be changed, and specifying said area by said image quality specifying data. apparatus. 4. The image quality specifying data includes image data
Image transmission apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that so as to specify the resolution of the. 5. The image quality specifying data according to claim 1, wherein the number of invalid bits and each bit position in a bit string of the unit data of the image data are specified. Image transmission device.